StampSelector is an online philatelic investment and stamp market resource, providing practical information for stamp collectors, stamp dealers, and investors. This includes stamp investment tips, general commentary on the stamp market, and practical advice regarding building a stamp collection and profiting from philately.

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Sunday, September 14, 2014

In 1961, Cuba issued a set and souvenir sheet portraying the Cuban revolutionary hero Jose Marti, and commemorating the Declaration of Havana (Scott #221a). 30,000 were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused sheet at $15.00.

This souvenir sheet should
do very well when Cuba rejoins the crassly commercial, capitalist world,
perhaps retaining a bit of a socialist safety net to keep the masses
complacent. It will also benefit from the long-term stealth bull
market in better Latin American sets, which began around twenty years
ago after the region's oligarchical dictatorships went out of style.

I
believe it inevitable that Cuba will join the fold of more-or-less free
nations, and that tourism and trade will explode as a result.
Currently, the average wage of each of the 11 1/2 million people living
in this "socialist utopia" is under $20 per month, and GDP per capita is
107th in the world. Annual GDP growth has been high, averaging 4.5%
over the last 5 years, but given the levels of corruption and favoritism
shown to high ranking Communist Party members, it's an open question
whether much of that new wealth has been filtering downward. Eventually,
something will have to give. The current market for Cuban stamps,
especially of the Pre-Castro Period, is bolstered by interest of stamp
collectors within Cuban-American community, currently about 1.6 million
strong, and far wealthier than their compatriots on the island. Interest
in Cuban stamps is likely to increase, especially given the likely
prospect of a replacement of the stale, "gerontocratic" regime within a
decade or so.

The Stamp Specialist features my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase,
including some Cuban stamps. Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists is
an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp
market.